System, method and article for indicating a wet or dry condition to a user

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a system, method and an article for indicating wet/dry condition to a user. At least one sensor comprising a circuit of a processing unit, a switch and an antenna is positioned within a target area. The switch detects the target area with a dry condition or a wet condition. The switch arranges the circuit in an open circuit configuration or a closed circuit configuration based upon the detection of the dry condition or the wet condition respectively. The antenna transmits a communication signal, generated by the processing unit, to a wireless reader via the circuit arranged in the open circuit configuration or the closed circuit configuration. The wireless reader determines the dry condition or the wet condition in the target area based upon the receipt of the communication signal. The wireless reader notifies to a user the dry condition or the wet condition detected in the target area.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation Application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/338,318 filed on Oct. 28, 2016. All the aboveare hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application described herein, in general, relates to asystem, method and an article for indicating a wet or dry condition to auser, and more particularly, for indicating the wet or dry condition foran absorbent article such as diaper.

BACKGROUND

Absorbent articles such as diapers are being widely used by children andadults in need. Diaper rash is most commonly observed problem today dueto frequent wetting and wearing of such wet diapers for prolongedperiod. There is possibility of skin allergy or urine infection due tofrequent bed wetting. Therefore, the wet diapers must be replacedimmediately for the purpose of providing hygiene and comfort to anindividual wearing the diaper. One of the most effective and preventivemeasure for avoiding the diaper rash, skin allergy and urine infectionis to frequently monitor and check the wet conditions in the diaper andthereby replacing the diaper with wet conditions. However, such manualmonitoring and checking of the diaper conditions is onerous and timeconsuming.

An electronic wet/dry condition detection system has been proposed inthe art wherein RFID based sensing circuits are employed to detect thewet/dry conditions within the diapers. However, the RFID based circuitsare clumsy in design requiring additional circuits for detection andincorporating multiple sensor wires in order to meet the requirements ofthe tailor made diapers. Further, the sensors employed in these RFIDcircuits are not reusable.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to systems,methods and articles for indicating a wet or dry condition to a user andthe concepts are further described below in the detailed description.This summary is not intended to identify essential features of theclaimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining orlimiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one implementation, a system for indicating a wet or dry condition toa user is disclosed. The system may comprise at least one sensorpositioned within a target area. The at least one sensor may comprise acircuit of a processing unit, a switch and an antenna. The switch may beconfigured to detect the target area with a dry condition or a wetcondition. Further, the switch may be configured to arrange the circuitin an open circuit configuration or a closed circuit configuration basedupon the detection of the dry condition and the wet conditionrespectively. Further, the antenna may be configured to transmit acommunication signal, generated by the processing unit, via the circuitarranged in either of the open circuit configuration or the closedcircuit configuration. The system may further comprise a wireless readerconfigured to receive the communication signal from the antenna. Thewireless reader may further be configured to determine the dry conditionor the wet condition in the target area based upon the receipt of thecommunication signal via the circuit arranged in the open circuitconfiguration and the closed circuit configuration respectively.Further, the wireless reader may be configured to generate anotification signal for a user, wherein the notification signal may beindicative of the dry condition or the wet condition detected in thetarget area.

In another implementation, a method for indicating wet or dry conditionto a user is disclosed. The method may comprise positioning at least onesensor within a target area, wherein the at least one sensor maycomprise a circuit of a processing unit, a switch and an antenna. Themethod may further comprise detecting, by the switch, the target areawith a dry condition or a wet condition. The method may further comprisearranging, by the switch, the circuit of processing unit, the switch andthe antenna in an open circuit configuration or a closed circuitconfiguration based upon the detection of the dry condition and the wetcondition respectively. The method may comprise transmitting, by theantenna, a communication signal to a wireless reader via the circuitarranged in either of the open circuit configuration or the closedcircuit configuration. The method may further comprise determining, bythe wireless reader, the dry condition or the wet condition in thetarget area based upon the receipt of the communication signal via thecircuit arranged in the open circuit configuration and the closedcircuit configuration respectively. Further, the method may comprisegenerating, by the wireless reader, a notification signal for a user,wherein the notification signal may be indicative of the dry conditionor the wet condition detected in the target area.

In yet another implementation, an absorbent article is disclosed. Theabsorbent article may comprise at least one reusable RFID sensorpositioned inside the absorbent article such that the at least one ofthe reusable RFID sensor is in direct contact with a liquid in theabsorbent article. The at least one reusable RFID sensor may furthercomprise a circuit of an RFID IC, a switch and an antenna. The switchmay be configured to detect the absorbent article with a dry conditionor a wet condition by sensing the presence or absence of a liquid withinthe absorbent article. The switch may be configured to arrange thecircuit in an open circuit configuration or a closed circuitconfiguration based upon the detection of the dry condition or the wetcondition respectively. The antenna may be configured to transmit acommunication signal to an RFID reader wirelessly communicating with theRFID sensor. The communication signal may be transmitted via the circuitarranged in either of the open circuit configuration or the closedcircuit configuration. The communication signal received via the circuitarranged in the open circuit configuration or the closed circuitconfiguration may indicate, to the RFID reader, the dry condition andthe wet condition being detected in the absorbent article respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanyingfigures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference numberidentifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. Thesame numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer like features andcomponents.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 comprising a sensor 101 and a wirelessreader 105 collectively facilitating the indication of a wet or drycondition to a user, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentapplication.

FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b) illustrate the sensor 101 arranged in twocircuit configurations, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentapplication.

FIG. 3 illustrates the wireless reader 105, in accordance with anembodiment of the present application.

FIG. 4 illustrates the working of the system 100, in accordance with anembodiment of the present application.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 for indicating dry or wet condition to auser, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “someembodiments,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in someembodiments,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment” in placesthroughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments.

System(s) and method(s) for indicating a wet or dry condition to a userare described. At least one sensor may be positioned within a targetarea wherein a dry condition or a wet condition is to be detected. Theat least one sensor may comprise a circuit of processing unit, a switchand an antenna. In one example, the at least one sensor may be an RFIDsensor. Further, the processing unit and the switch may be an RFID ICand wet sensor switch. Hereinafter, the sensor, the processing unit andthe switch will be interchangeably referred to as an “RFID sensor”, an“RFID IC” and a “wet sensor switch” respectively.

In an aspect, if the RFID sensor is a type A sensor, the RFID IC, thewet sensor switch and the antenna of the RFID sensor may be connected inparallel. Alternatively, if the RFID sensor is a type B sensor, the RFIDIC, the wet sensor switch and the antenna of the RFID sensor may beconnected in series. The wet sensor switch may detect the target areawith the dry condition or the wet condition by sensing apresence/absence of a liquid within the target area. Based upon thedetection of the dry condition or the wet condition, the wet sensorswitch may act as an “open circuit switch” or a “closed circuit switch”respectively. The wet sensor switch acting as the open circuit switch orthe closed circuit switch may arrange the circuit of the RFID IC, thewet sensor switch and the antenna in an open circuit configuration andthe closed circuit configuration respectively.

The at least one sensor may be communicatively coupled with a wirelessreader. In one example, the wireless reader may be an RFID reader.Hereinafter, the wireless reader will be interchangeably referred to as“RFID reader”. In order to communicate with the RFID reader, the sensormay transmit a communication signal, generated by the RFID IC, via theantenna of the sensor. The communication signal may be received by theRFID reader via an antenna within the RFID reader. The communicationsignal, generated by the RFID IC, has to be routed through the circuitof the RFID IC, the wet sensor switch and the antenna of the sensor. Asdescribed above, the circuit may be arranged in either of the opencircuit configuration or the closed circuit configuration depending onthe dry condition or the wet condition detected by the RFID IC.

If the sensor is a type A sensor with the circuit arranged in the opencircuit configuration wherein the RFID IC, the wet sensor switch and theantenna are connected in parallel, the communication signal from theRFID IC may be received by the RFID reader. The RFID reader maydetermine that since the communication signal is received from the typeA sensor with the circuit arranged in the open circuit configuration,the target area is detected with the dry condition. Alternatively, ifthe sensor is a type B sensor with the circuit arranged in the closedcircuit configuration wherein the RFID IC, the wet sensor switch and theantenna are connected in series, the communication signal from the RFIDIC may be received by the RFID reader. The RFID reader may determinethat since the communication signal is received from the type B sensorwith the circuit arranged in the closed circuit configuration, thetarget area is detected with the wet condition. In some embodiments,both type A sensor and type B sensor may be employed to detect the drycondition or the wet condition in the target area.

The RFID reader may generate a notification signal for a user. Thenotification signal may be indicative of the dry condition or the wetcondition detected in the target area. The notification signal generatedby the RFID reader may be in form of an audible signal or a visualsignal or a combination thereof. The audible signal and the visualsignal may be indicated via a beeper and one or more Light EmittingDiodes (LEDs), respectively, present within the RFID reader. Whileaspects of described system, method and article for indicating dry/wetcondition to a user may be implemented in any number of differentcomputing systems, apparatuses, environments, and/or configurations, theembodiments are described in the context of the following exemplarysystem.

Referring to FIG. 1, a system 100 for indicating wet or dry condition toa user is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentapplication. As shown, the system 100 may comprise at least one sensor101 (hereinafter referred as “sensor 101” or an “RFID sensor 101”interchangeably) and a wireless reader 105 (hereinafter referred as an“RFID reader 105”). In one embodiment, at least one sensor 101 maycomprise a processing unit (shown as an “RFID IC 102”), a switch (shownas a “wet sensor switch 103”) and an antenna 104. In one embodiment, theRFID IC 102 is a standard Radio Frequency Identification technologywafer. The RFID IC 102 may remove the need of analogue or digitalcircuit for detecting capacitance, resistance, voltage or current. Inone embodiment, the RFID IC 102 may be configured to generate acommunication signal to be transmitted to the RFID reader 105communicatively coupled with the sensor 101. In one embodiment, thesensor 101 may be communicatively coupled with the RFID reader 105 viaan RFID communication protocol. The communication signal may betransmitted to the RFID reader 105 via the antenna 104 electricallycoupled with the wet sensor switch 103.

As shown in FIG. 1, the RFID reader 105 may further comprise a battery106, a microprocessor 107, an amplifier, modulator and demodulator (AMD)unit 108 (hereinafter referred as “AMD unit 108”), an antenna 109 and abeeper/LED 110. In an embodiment, the communication signal generated bythe RFID IC 102 may be transmitted by the antenna 104 to the RFID reader105 via an open circuit or a closed circuit formed between the RFID IC102 and the antenna 104. The open circuit or the closed circuit may beformed between the RFID IC 102 and the antenna 104 by the wet sensorswitch 103 based upon sensing of a presence/absence of a liquid withinthe target area by the wet sensor switch 103.

In an embodiment, the liquid may be water, urine, and the like. It is tobe noted that the wet sensor switch 103 is sensitive to resistance ofthe liquid. The liquid provides conducting path with low resistance forthe wet sensor switch 103 and therefore the wet sensor switch 103 mayact as a closed switch if there is liquid in the target area. It must beunderstood that the wet sensor switch 103 acting as the closed switchmay form the closed circuit switch between the RFID IC 102 and theantenna 104. In another embodiment, if there is no liquid within thetarget area, the resistance of the wet sensor switch 103 is high andhence the wet sensor switch 103 may act as an open switch. It must benoted that the wet sensor switch 103, may not consume energy foroperation. In one embodiment, the wet sensor switch 103, acting as theopen switch or the closed switch, may arrange the circuit of the RFID IC102, the wet sensor switch 103 and the antenna 104 in the open circuitconfiguration and the closed circuit configuration respectively.

Referring to FIG. 1, the sensor 101 may be a type A sensor or a type Bsensor or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, if the sensor 101 isa type A sensor, the components of the type A sensor 101 including theRFID IC 102, the wet sensor switch 103 and the antenna 104 may beconnected in parallel as shown in FIG. 2(a). In this embodiment, if thewet sensor switch 103 of the type A sensor 101, positioned within atarget area, detects the target area with a dry condition, the wetsensor switch 103 may act as an open switch thereby arranging thecircuit in an open circuit configuration. It is to be noted herein thatsince there is no liquid within the target area, the resistance of thewet sensor switch 103 is high and therefore the wet sensor switch 103act as an open switch. Since, the components of the type A sensor 101are connected in parallel, the communication signal generated by theRFID IC 102 may be transmitted to the RFID reader 105 via the opencircuit arrangement of the RFID IC 102, the wet sensor switch 103 andthe antenna 104.

On the contrary, if the wet sensor switch 103 of the type A sensor 101detects the target area with a wet condition, the wet sensor switch 103may act as a closed switch thereby arranging the circuit in a closedcircuit configuration. It is to be noted herein that since there is aliquid within the target area, the wet sensor switch 103 being resistantto the liquid, the resistance of the wet sensor switch 103 is low. Thisis because, the liquid provides conductive path to the wet sensor switch103 and therefore the wet sensor switch 103 acts as the closed switch.Since, the components of the type A sensor 101 are connected in parallelwith the circuit arranged in the closed circuit configuration, thecommunication signal generated by the RFID IC 102 may be failed to betransmitted to the RFID reader 105. Therefore, the type A sensor 101 maycommunicate with the RFID reader 105 only when the dry condition isdetected by the wet sensor switch 103 within the target area. Thus, thereceipt of the communication signal from the type A sensor 101 enablesthe RFID reader 105 to determine that the dry condition is beingdetected in the target area. Alternatively, if the RFID reader 105 failsto receive the communication signal from the type A sensor 101, the RFIDreader 105 may determine that the wet condition is being detected in thetarget area.

In an another embodiment, if the sensor 101 is a type B sensor, thecomponents of the type B sensor 101 including the RFID IC 102, the wetsensor switch 103 and the antenna 104 may be connected in series asshown in FIG. 2(b). In this embodiment, if the wet sensor switch 103 ofthe type B sensor 101, positioned within a target area, detects thetarget area with a wet condition, the wet sensor switch 103 may act as aclosed switch thereby arranging the circuit in a closed circuitconfiguration. It is to be noted herein that since there is a liquidwithin the target area, the wet sensor switch 103 being resistant to theliquid, the resistance of the wet sensor switch 103 is low. This isbecause, the liquid provides conductive path to the sensor switch 103and therefore the wet sensor switch 103 may act as the closed switch.Since, the components of the type B sensor 101 are connected in series,the communication signal generated by the RFID IC 102 may be transmittedto the RFID reader 105 via the closed circuit arrangement of the RFID IC102, the wet sensor switch 103 and the antenna 104.

On the contrary, if the target area is detected with a dry condition bythe wet sensor switch 103 of the type B sensor 101, the wet sensorswitch 103 may act as an open switch thereby arranging the circuit in anopen circuit configuration. It is to be noted herein that since there isno liquid within the target area, the resistance of the wet sensorswitch 103 is high and therefore the wet sensor switch 103 acts as anopen switch. Since, the components of the type B sensor 101 areconnected in series with the circuit arranged in the open circuitconfiguration, the communication signal generated by the RFID IC 102 maybe failed to be transmitted to the RFID reader 105. Therefore, the typeB sensor 101 may communicate with the RFID reader 105 only when the wetcondition is detected by the wet sensor switch 103 within the targetarea. Thus, the receipt of the communication signal from the type Bsensor 101 enables the RFID reader 105 to determine that the wetcondition is being detected in the target area. Alternatively, if theRFID reader 105 fails to receive the communication signal from the typeB sensor 101, the RFID reader 105 may determine that the dry conditionis being detected in the target area.

In an embodiment, the sensor 101 may comprise a combination of a type Asensor and a type B sensor positioned within the target area. In thisembodiment, if the target area is detected with the dry condition, thenthe type A sensor may communicate with the RFID reader 105. Whereas, ifthe target area is detected with the wet condition, the type B sensormay communicate with the RFID reader 105. Therefore, irrespective of thecondition of the target area, one of the two sensors (type A sensor andtype B sensor) embedded within the sensor 101 is always in communicationwith the RFID reader 105 thereby indicating the dry condition or the wetcondition to the RFID reader 105.

The RFID reader 105 may determine the dry condition or the wet conditionin the target area based upon the communication signal received from thetype A sensor and the type B sensor respectively. In one embodiment, theRFID reader 105 may receive the communication signal via the antenna109, of the RFID reader 105, capable of absorbing and emitting radiowaves. In one embodiment, the communication signal received by theantenna 109 may be fed to the AMD unit 108. The AMD unit 108 may convertthe communication signal into an appropriate signal to be used by themicroprocessor 107 for processing and analysis of the communicationsignal information received from the sensor 101. The battery 106 maysupply power to the components of the RFID reader 105 including themicroprocessor 107, the AMD unit 108, the antenna 109 and the beeper/LED110.

The microprocessor 107 of the RIFD reader 105 may store a plurality ofprogrammed instructions within an internal memory of the microprocessor107 or an external memory (not shown) coupled with the microprocessor107. The plurality of programmed instructions may include routines,programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., which performparticular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Amongother capabilities, the microprocessor 107 may be configured to fetchand execute plurality of programmed instructions. The microprocessor 107may execute one or more programmed instructions for analyzing RadioFrequency Identification (RFID) technology requirements and thecommunication signal information received from the sensor 101. In oneembodiment, the microprocessor 107 may further execute one or moreprogrammed instructions for matching the communication signalinformation with preprogrammed data stored within the microprocessor107. The preprogrammed data may indicate the dry condition or the wetcondition being detected within the target area based upon receipt ofthe communication signal from the type A sensor and type B sensorrespectively. The RFID reader 105 may detect the type of the sensor 101as one of the type A sensor and the type B sensor by matching thecommunication signal information with the preprogrammed data andaccordingly determine the dry condition or the wet condition beingdetected within the target area.

Based upon the determination of the dry condition or the wet condition,the microprocessor 107 may further execute one or more programmedinstructions for triggering beeper/LEDs 110 to generate a notificationsignal for a user in order to notify the user about the wet/drycondition being detected in the target area. In an embodiment, themicroprocessor 107 may provide a modulated signal for communicating withthe sensor 101 and providing required energy for the RFID chips. FIG. 3illustrates the RFID reader 105, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent application. As shown in FIG. 3, the RFID reader 105 maycomprise a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The plurality ofLEDs may comprise a dry LED 301, a wet LED 302 and a status LED 303.Further, the RFID reader 105 may comprise a power button 304 and a learnbutton 305. The power button 304 may be used to power ON/OFF the RFIDreader 105.

In one embodiment, if the target area is detected with the drycondition, the user may be indicated with the dry condition beingdetected in the target area by flashing the dry LED 301 (visualindication) and triggering a beep signal (audio indication) using abeeper (not shown). In another embodiment, if the target area isdetected with the wet condition, the user may be indicated with the wetcondition being detected in the target area by flashing the wet LED 302(visual indication) and triggering a beep signal (audio indication)using the beeper.

In one embodiment, the status LED 303 may indicate the status of theRFID reader 105. In one embodiment, the status LED 303 may be flashed toindicate the RFID reader 105 is in “standby mode”. Further, the statusLED 303 may be flashed and a beep may be generated by the beeper toindicate the RFID reader is in the standby mode with low battery. TheRFID reader 105 may be in “OFF mode” when the dry LED 301, the wet LED302 and the status LED 303 are OFF and are not flashing. In oneembodiment, the RFID reader 105 may switch from the “standby mode” tothe “OFF mode” when the sensor 101 fails to detect the dry or wetcondition within the target area for a predefined time interval of 30seconds.

Referring to FIG. 4, an exemplary implementation of the system 100 fordetecting wet or dry condition is illustrated. In this implementation,the sensor 101 is positioned within a cloth 401. In one embodiment, ifthe cloth is a dry cloth with no liquid therein, the receipt of thecommunication signal from the sensor 101 (e.g. type A sensor in thiscase), by the antenna 109 of the RFID reader 105, may trigger theflashing of the dry LED 301 (shown in FIG. 3) as-well-as generating abeep within the predefined time interval of thirty seconds. In anotherembodiment, if the cloth is a wet cloth with liquid therein, the receiptof the communication signal, from the sensor 101 (e.g. type B sensor inthis case), by the antenna 109 of the RFID reader 105 may trigger theflashing of the dry LED 301 (shown in FIG. 3) as-well-as generating abeep within the predefined time interval of thirty seconds.

The RFID reader 105 may be adapted to detect the type of sensor 101 bymatching the sensor 101 to the RFID reader 105. In order to match thesensor 101 to the RFID reader 105, the sensor 101 may be positioned onthe dry cloth. The learn button 305 may be pressed and held for apredefined time interval of two seconds until the dry LED 301 isflashed. Further, the RFID reader 105 may be moved closer to the sensor101 until the dry LED 301 flashes and beeps for a predefined timeinterval of one second. The learn button 305 may be pressed again andthe wet LED 302 is turned “ON”. The sensor 101 may be placed on a wetcloth. Further, the RFID reader 105 may be moved closer to the sensor101 until the wet LED 302 flashes and beeps for predefined time intervalof one second. In this manner, the sensor 101 may be matched to the RFIDreader 105 for detection of the sensor by the RFID reader 105.

Now referring to FIG. 5, a method 500 for indicating wet or drycondition to a user is illustrated, in accordance with the embodiment ofthe present application. The order in which the method 500 is describedis not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of thedescribed method blocks can be combined in any order to implement themethod 500 or alternate methods. Furthermore, the method 500 may beimplemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combinationthereof. However, for ease of explanation, in the embodiments describedbelow, the method 500 may be considered to be implemented in the abovedescribed system 100.

As shown in FIG. 5, at block 501, at least one sensor 101 may bepositioned within a target area wherein the wet/dry condition is beingdetected. In one embodiment, the at least sensor 101 may comprise acircuit of a processing unit 102, a switch 103 and an antenna 104. Theat least one sensor 101 may be communicatively coupled with the wirelessreader 105.

At block 502, the target area may be detected with a dry condition or awet condition. In one implementation, the target area may be detectedwith the dry condition or the wet condition by the switch 103 of the atleast one sensor 101.

At block 503, the circuit of the at least one sensor 101 may be arrangedin either of an open circuit configuration or a closed circuitconfiguration based upon the detection of the dry condition or the wetcondition, respectively, in the target area. In one implementation, thecircuit of the at least one sensor 101 may be arranged in either of theopen circuit configuration or the closed circuit configuration by theswitch 103 of the at least one sensor 101.

At block 504, a communication signal may be transmitted to the wirelessreader 105 via the circuit arranged in either of the open circuitconfiguration or the closed circuit configuration. In an embodiment, thecommunication signal may be generated by the processing unit. In oneimplementation, the communication signal may be transmitted to thewireless reader by the antenna 104 of the at least one sensor 101.

At block 505, the wireless reader 105 may determine the dry condition orthe wet condition detected in the target area based upon the receipt ofthe communication signal via the circuit arranged in the open circuitconfiguration and the closed circuit configuration respectively. In oneimplementation, the wireless reader 105 may receive the communicationsignal via the antenna 109 present within the wireless reader 105.

At block 506, a notification signal for a user may be generated by thewireless reader 105. The notification signal may be indicative of thedry condition or the wet condition detected in the target area. In oneimplementation, the notification signal may be generated via a beeper orLEDs or combinations thereof. The beeper or the LEDs may be presentwithin the wireless reader 105.

In one exemplary embodiment, the system 100 may be implemented in anabsorbent material such as a diaper used by children and adults. Thesensor 101 (either type A sensor or type B sensor or a combinationthereof) may be positioned inside the diaper such that the at least oneof the reusable RFID sensor is in direct contact with a liquid in thediaper. The sensor 101 may be a reusable RFID sensor capable of beingreused after the diaper is disposed. The RFID sensor 101 may comprise anRFID IC 102, a wet sensor switch 103 and an antenna 104. The wet sensorswitch 103 may detect the diaper with a dry condition or a wet conditionby sensing the presence/absence of a liquid within the diaper. The wetsensor switch 103 may arrange the circuit in an open circuitconfiguration or a closed circuit configuration based upon the detectionof the dry condition or the wet condition respectively. The antenna 104may transmit a communication signal generated by the RFID IC 102 to theRFID reader 105 wirelessly communicating with the RFID sensor 101. TheRFID reader 105 may receive the communication signal via the circuitarranged in the open circuit configuration or the closed circuitconfiguration. The communication signal received via the circuitarranged in the open circuit configuration or the closed circuitconfiguration may indicate the dry condition and the wet condition beingdetected within the diaper, respectively, to the RFID reader 105. TheRFID reader 105 may generate a notification signal for a user, whereinthe notification signal may be indicative of the dry condition or thewet condition detected in the diaper. The notification signal may begenerated in form of an audible signal or a visual signal or acombination thereof. The audible signal and the visual signal mayindicate to the user via a beeper and one or more Light Emitting Diodes(LEDs), respectively, present within the RFID reader 105.

Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages.Though not required to practice aspects of the application, theseadvantages may include those provided by the following features.

Some embodiments of the present application enable system and methodproviding sensors deployed in absorbent materials such as a diaper fordetecting dry/wet conditions within the diaper, wherein such sensors maybe further reused in a fresh diaper or other applications after thediaper is disposed.

Some embodiments of the present application enable system and methodprovisioning placement of the two different type of sensors (type Asensor and type B sensor) within the target area such that one of thetwo sensors are configured to detect the dry condition in the targetarea, and wherein the other sensor is configured to detect the wetcondition in the target area.

Although implementations for systems, articles and methods forindicating wet or dry condition to a user have been described inlanguage specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to beunderstood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to thespecific features or methods described. Rather, the specific featuresand methods are disclosed as examples of implementations for indicatingwet or dry condition to a user.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for indicating wet or dry condition to auser, the system comprising: a first sensor and a second sensorpositioned within a target area of an absorbent article; and a reader;wherein the first sensor comprises a first circuit comprising a firstIC, a first switch and a first antenna connected in parallel, the firstswitch being configured to detect the target area with one of a drycondition and a wet condition, and arrange the first circuit in a firstcircuit configuration based upon the detection of the one of the drycondition and the wet condition, the first IC being configured togenerate a first communication signal when the first circuit is in thefirst circuit configuration, and the first antenna being configured totransmit the first communication signal to the reader; the second sensorcomprises a second circuit comprising a second IC, a second switch and asecond antenna connected in series, the second switch being configuredto detect the target area with an other of the dry condition and the wetcondition, and arrange the second circuit in a second circuitconfiguration based upon the detection of the other of the dry conditionand the wet condition, the second IC being configured to generate asecond communication signal when the second circuit is in the secondcircuit configuration, and the second antenna being configured totransmit the second communication signal to the reader; the reader isconfigured to receive the first or second communication signal anddetermine the target area is in the dry condition or the wet condition.2. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader is an Radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) reader, the first IC is an RFID IC, and the secondIC is an RFID IC.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first switchacts as a closed switch if there is liquid within the target area and anopen switch if there is no liquid within the target area, and the secondswitch acts as a closed switch if there is liquid within the target areaand an open switch if there is no liquid within the target area.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the first circuit configuration is an opencircuit configuration, and the second circuit configuration is a closedcircuit configuration.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the readerfurther generates a notification signal for a user, the notificationsignal being indicative of the dry condition or the wet conditiondetected in the target area.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein thenotification signal generated by the reader is in form of an audiblesignal or a visual signal or a combination thereof.
 7. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the audible signal and the visual signal is indicatedvia a beeper and one or more Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) respectively,wherein the beeper and the one or more LEDs are present within thereader.
 8. A method for indicating wet or dry condition to a user, themethod comprising: positioning a first sensor and a second sensor withina target area of an absorbent article, wherein the first sensorcomprises a first circuit comprising a first IC, a first switch and afirst antenna connected in parallel, the first switch being configuredto detect the target area with one of a dry condition and a wetcondition, and arrange the first circuit in a first circuitconfiguration based upon the detection of the one of the dry conditionand the wet condition, the first IC being configured to generate a firstcommunication signal when the first circuit is in the first circuitconfiguration, and the first antenna being configured to transmit thefirst communication signal to a reader; the second sensor comprises asecond circuit comprising a second IC, a second switch and a secondantenna connected in series, the second switch being configured todetect the target area with an other of the dry condition and the wetcondition, and arrange the second circuit in a second circuitconfiguration based upon the detection of the other of the dry conditionand the wet condition, the second IC being configured to generate asecond communication signal when the second circuit is in the secondcircuit configuration, and the second antenna being configured totransmit the second communication signal to the reader; detecting, bythe first sensor and the second sensor, the target area with the drycondition or the wet condition; receiving, by the reader, the first orsecond communication signal, determining the target area is in the drycondition or the wet condition.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein thereader is an Radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, the first ICis an RFID IC, and the second IC is an RFID IC.
 10. The method of claim8, wherein the first switch acts as a closed switch if there is liquidwithin the target area and an open switch if there is no liquid withinthe target area, and the second switch acts as a closed switch if thereis liquid within the target area and an open switch if there is noliquid within the target area.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein thefirst circuit configuration is an open circuit configuration, and thesecond circuit configuration is a closed circuit configuration.
 12. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the reader further generates a notificationsignal for a user, the notification signal being indicative of the drycondition or the wet condition detected in the target area.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the notification signal generated by thereader is in form of an audible signal or a visual signal or acombination thereof.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the audiblesignal and the visual signal is indicated via a beeper and one or moreLight Emitting Diodes (LEDs) respectively, wherein the beeper and theone or more LEDs are present within the reader.
 15. An absorbentarticle, comprising: a first reusable sensor and a second reusablesensor positioned inside the absorbent article such that the firstreusable sensor and the second reusable sensor are in direct contactwith a liquid in the absorbent article, wherein the first sensorcomprises a first circuit comprising a first IC, a first switch and afirst antenna connected in parallel, the first switch being configuredto detect the target area with one of a dry condition and a wetcondition, and arrange the first circuit in a first circuitconfiguration based upon the detection of the one of the dry conditionand the wet condition, the first IC being configured to generate a firstcommunication signal when the first circuit is in the first circuitconfiguration, and the first antenna being configured to transmit thefirst communication signal to a reader; the second sensor comprises asecond circuit comprising a second IC, a second switch and a secondantenna connected in series, the second switch being configured todetect the target area with an other of the dry condition and the wetcondition, and arrange the second circuit in a second circuitconfiguration based upon the detection of the other of the dry conditionand the wet condition, the second IC being configured to generate asecond communication signal when the second circuit is in the secondcircuit configuration, and the second antenna being configured totransmit the second communication signal to the reader.
 16. The articleof claim 15, wherein the reader is an Radio-frequency identification(RFID) reader, the first IC is an RFID IC, and the second IC is an RFIDIC.
 17. The article of claim 15, wherein the first switch acts as aclosed switch if there is liquid within the target area and an openswitch if there is no liquid within the target area, and the secondswitch acts as a closed switch if there is liquid within the target areaand an open switch if there is no liquid within the target area.
 18. Thearticle of claim 15, wherein the first circuit configuration is an opencircuit configuration, and the second circuit configuration is a closedcircuit configuration.
 19. The article of claim 15, wherein the readerfurther generates a notification signal for a user, the notificationsignal being indicative of the dry condition or the wet conditiondetected in the target area.
 20. The article of claim 15, wherein thenotification signal generated by the reader is in form of an audiblesignal or a visual signal or a combination thereof; and the audiblesignal and the visual signal is indicated via a beeper and one or moreLight Emitting Diodes (LEDs) respectively, wherein the beeper and theone or more LEDs are present within the reader.